Multi-phase helical CT in diagnosis of early hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the characteristics of early hepatocellular carcinoma by using multi-phasehelical CT and assess the value of this method.METHODS: Multi-phase helical CT findings were reviewed double-blindly by radiologists.RESULTS: Altogether 24 lesions were found in 21 patients. In plain CT, the lesions were seen ashypodense or isodense areas. After contrast enhancement, 87.5% of the lesions showed regular orirregular hyperdense enhancement, whereas 12.5% demonstrated tumor vessels in arterial phase, whichbecame hypodensed or isodensed nodules in portal phase or the hypodensed in delayed phase. Theprevalence of density changes showed a hypo-hyper-hypo and hypo-hypo pattern.CONCLUSIONS: Multi-phase helical CT could reflect the blood supply of early hepatocelluarcarcinoma, and is also convenient for the differential diagnosis of hepatic cavernous angioma, metastatictumor, hepatic nodulous hyperplasia, and hepatic inflammatory granuloma.